Day'Ron

Sharpe

Playing against a Pacers team without Ivica Zubac or Obi Toppin, Sharpe had his most productive game of the season. The Nets center recorded his first double-double in six games, finishing with new highs in points and rebounds. Sharpe didn’t record any defensive stats, ending his two-game streak with at least one steal and one block. He’ll look to do more on that end of the floor on Monday when the Nets visit the Knicks.

Sunday was a bad day for the Nets, who fell to 0-3 with a blowout loss to the Pacers. Sharpe shot the ball well from the field, but the overall production was underwhelming for a starting center. The promotion certainly raises his fantasy ceiling, but it may take time for Sharpe to deliver the top-100 return some managers hope for. The Nets play three games in Week 2, starting with the Celtics on Tuesday.

The Nets didn’t have Day’Ron Sharpe for Thursday’s exhibition, so Wagner moved into the starting lineup after coming off the bench on Tuesday. The veteran forward/center logged 18 minutes, though foul trouble limited his time on the floor. A healthy Sharpe makes Wagner a non-factor in most fantasy leagues, but he’s likely to be worth streaming at times.

MPJ and Sharpe both played in the preseason opener on Tuesday, so it’s unlikely these injuries are severe enough to impact their status for the start of the regular season. As for Brown and Jefferson, neither rookie played in the preseason opener, with their next chance to debut coming on Monday in Washington.

Sharpe is coming off the most productive season of his NBA career, as he averaged highs in points (8.7), rebounds (6.7), assists (2.3) and steals (1.1). Used mainly as a reserve in his first five seasons, making 21 starts in 253 total appearances, the 6-foot-9 center may be the Nets’ starting center next season. Nic Claxton was traded to the Bulls as part of a three-team deal that sent Julius Randle to Brooklyn. While the Nets could also add a veteran in free agency or shift Noah Clowney into that role, Sharpe’s opportunities will increase in 2026-27. If he’s allowed to start, he’ll be worth taking a flier on in drafts.

Claxton sat out Sunday, but he’ll be available for the second leg of Brooklyn’s back-to-back set. Claxton should see significant work in the frontcourt, especially since Day’Ron Sharpe (thumb) has also been ruled out.

Sharpe, who missed the Nets’ last two games with a left thumb injury, has been diagnosed with a torn UCL in the thumb. As a result, he’ll undergo surgery and miss the rest of the season. This is a rough turn for fantasy managers who targeted Sharpe for the silly season. While Danny Wolf has been used more on the perimeter, his opportunities may increase in the aftermath of Sharpe’s injury, especially if the Nets look to play starters Nic Claxton and Noah Clowney less. Josh Minott and Chaney Johnson have also played rotation minutes recently and are worth watching.

Thursday’s game will be the second that Sharpe has missed due to a sprained left thumb. Josh Minott and Chaney Johnson played rotation minutes off the bench in Tuesday’s loss to the Pistons, but neither player needs to be rostered in redraft leagues.

Sharpe is coming off one of his better games of the season after posting a 19/5/2/2/1 line against the Grizzlies on Monday. He’s dealing with a left thumb sprain and will get the night off for the second leg of a back-to-back set. Nic Claxton should handle an increased workload with Sharpe out of action, while Danny Wolf could operate as Claxton’s top backup. The absence of Williams isn’t as impactful, but it could mean more minutes for Ochai Agbaji.

Despite coming off the bench, Sharpe enjoyed one of his best games of the season in Monday’s 126-115 win over the Grizzlies. A double-digit scorer in three of his last four appearances, the Nets’ backup center has hit 19 points four times since February 1. At this point in the season, Sharpe has reached a point where deep-league managers can justify slotting him into lineups, even on nights when Nic Claxton (nine points, eight rebounds, five assists and two blocks) is available.